The present study was performed to examine some factors which affect the reaction time (RT). They included the following four conditions: 1. the low level of anxiety induced by an application of slightly unpleasant electric shock (ES) (Exp. II), 2. the high level of anxiety induced by a very unpleasant ES (Exp. III), 3. the backward conditioning (Exp. IV), and 4. the anxiety induced by the presentation of false-instruction without ES (Exp. V). Exp. I constituted the control in the present experiment.
Each experiment included three periods except for Exp. V. In the first period, three light stimuli (red, blue, and yellow) were presented randomly as a RT signal. Ss were instructed to respond to each signal as rapidly as possible. RT was measured by the pressing of a key paired in position with each signal. A verbal sign “Ready?” was given as a ready signal several seconds before the presentation of each signal. This period can be regarded as a neutral situation. The second period: the red signal was reinforced by pairing with the unavoidable ES. ES was given immediately after the response to the red signal in Exp. II and Exp. III, but was given immediately before the presentation of the red signal in Exp. IV. No ES was given to any presentation of RT signals in Exp. I. This period (except in the case of Exp. I) can be regarded as an anxiety inducing situation. The third period: RT was measured in the same way as the first period. Here, the specific anxiety effect caused by the conditioning should distinguish itself from the general effect of the anxiety inducing situation in the second period, for the differentiated stimuli (blue and yellow) could act as neutral stimuli, whereas the reinforcement stimulus (red) should act as an anxiety inducing stimulus.
Exp. V consisted of two periods which were performed with the same procedures as the first period in the other experiments. Before the second period, there was given a false-instruction that a very unpleasant ES was to be given immediately after the response to some red signals. Although no ES was in fact given, this period can also be regarded as the anxiety inducing situation.
The main results were as follows: (1) a prolongation of RT in the anxiety situation was demonstrated. (2) It was more pronounced in the high level of anxiety. (3) The same effect was shown also in the anxiety situation induced by the false-instruction. (4) The prolonging of RT to the reinforcement stimulus (red) can be considered as the specific anxiety effect of the conditioning. (5) The effect of the backward conditioning on RT was scarcely evident. (6) The report by Bersh and Garvin that the RT slowdown was eliminated by the use of the ready signal was not confirmed by the present experiments.
